Tired of Living with Pains in Your Neck? Relieve Them with the Help of PT
You Can Live without Neck Pain!
Your neck is an important part of everyday movement, and severe pain can make it difficult to function normally. Neck pain can be incapacitating and painful, especially if it extends from your neck to your shoulders or down your arm.
Physical therapy can help you get back to your normal, pain-free function, even if your neck pain is currently preventing you from doing daily tasks, such as sitting up straight in your chair at work or looking down to tie your shoes.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) estimates that one-third of the population will experience neck pain in any given year. It can worsen if left untreated, and in severe cases, surgery may even be required.
However, there is some good news on the horizon: many people find relief from this pain with the help of physical therapy every year!
Our physical therapy clinics in Ahwatukee, Biltmore and Tempe, AZ are dedicated to providing you with the help you need. Make an appointment today to get started on the path toward recovery!
Common causes of this pain
Injuries to tissues and bone are the most common reason for neck pain, however, certain degenerative conditions can also lead to neck pain.
Some common conditions that give you pain in your neck include:
Degenerative joint conditions
Conditions such as osteoarthritis can also reduce the cartilage between the vertebrae in the neck, resulting in neck pain. Much like any other joint in your body, the neck joints can erode with age, causing pain.
Injuries
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that result in neck pain, typically sustained by an automobile or high-impact sports collision. This is known as a “strain” injury, causing the head to whip rapidly back-and-forth, thus affecting the joints and soft tissues in the back of the neck.
Compressed nerves
If you have a herniated disc in your neck, or a narrowing of the foramen (space where the nerves exit the spine), the nerves that branch out from your spinal cord can become compressed. In some cases, nerve pain can even extend from the neck down to the hands and fingers — a condition known as “radiculopathy.”
Muscle strains
Even something as simple as sitting at your desk all day with your neck craned toward the computer screen can cause your neck muscles to become strained by overuse. Neck muscles can also get strained with overexertion, such as heavy lifting.
Illnesses
Certain diseases and ailments can result in neck pain, such as rheumatoid cancer, arthritis, and meningitis.
What can PT treatments do for my pain?
Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for neck pain. Our physical therapists at Orthopedic Sports Therapy will perform a thorough physical evaluation to determine what is causing your pain. This will include an assessment of the range of motion in your neck as well as any limitations you may have as a result of your pain.
Your physical therapist will then determine which methods would be best for your unique treatment plan. You will work together to understand the objectives and expectations of each step of your personalized treatment plan, with the main goal being to get rid of your neck pain as soon as possible. If necessary, your therapist will also work with your primary care physician!
You might be wondering which treatments are likely to be included in your treatment plan. Our physical therapists in Ahwatukee, Biltmore and Tempe, AZ use hands-on treatments, make postural adjustments, and prescribe specific exercises to help you strengthen, build, and improve the muscles and tissues in your neck.
Many therapists employ manual or hands-on therapy, which consists of specific techniques designed to reduce stiffness and pain and improve your neck’s range of motion.
We will also focus on improving your posture to aid in the recovery of your neck muscles and to avoid future injury. As determined by your physical therapist, additional treatment options may include joint mobilizations, dry needling, cupping and ergonomic changes.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
Pain in neck typically runs from the base of a person’s skull to their shoulder blades. It can also extend to your skull and jaw.
The pain can vary in severity, from a constant dull ache to sharp and stabbing pains. Neck pain can sometimes include additional symptoms, such as:
- Discomfort and pain when remaining in the same position for too long
- Headaches
- Numbness or tingling into the arms or hands
- Inability to fully stand up or sit up straight
- Loss of sleep due to pain and discomfort
- Arm weakness
- Stiffness and muscle tightness in the upper body
The best way to be 100% sure of why you’re experiencing neck pain is to see a therapist for an appointment.
Orthopedic Sports Therapy can help you live comfortably
You may be living your life with pain right now, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Schedule an appointment! We look forward to helping you get back to feeling your best!
We will help you get started on the road toward long-term pain relief.